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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Bakersfield, CA vs Fresno, CA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Fresno spends 73.3% more per capita than Bakersfield ($31,811/person difference). Bakersfield, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Bakersfield, CA
Pop. 404,321
C
56/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Fresno, CA
Pop. 541,528
C
50/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Bakersfield
Fresno
Total Spending
$4.7B
$23.5B
Spending / Capita
$11,576
$43,387
Total Revenue
$1.6B
$6.0B
Revenue / Capita
$3,862
$10,998
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
404,321
541,528
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Bakersfield$0
Fresno$3,261
Fire Protection
Bakersfield$0
Fresno$568
Parks & Recreation
Bakersfield$741
Fresno$76
Education
Bakersfield$0
Fresno$3,942
Health
Bakersfield$0
Fresno$599

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldFresno
Property Tax
$1
$337
Sales Tax
$20
$19
Income Tax
$1,909
$501
Intergovernmental
$3,862
-$4,470
Charges & Fees
$1,024
$11
Other
$1,915
$2,070

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldFresno
Police
$0
$3,261
Fire Protection
$0
$568
Education
$0
$3,942
Public Welfare
$840
$1,946
Health
$0
$599
Hospitals
$425
$0
Parks & Recreation
$741
$76
Housing
$3,391
$2,856
Sewerage
$265
$0
Utilities
$2,679
$15,340
Interest on Debt
$0
$255
Other
$3,234
$14,545
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
Fresno, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health

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